Raspberries require bright sun and plenty of space to produce their fruit.
Raspberries are large caning plants and grow and produce fruit in spring, summer and fall. Joan J raspberries produce plump, dark-red berries in late summer and grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 8. Plant these successful raspberries at the right time of year, with the right site, soil and space, for a juicy, delicious harvest.
Planting Season
Spring raspberry plantings are more successful than fall plantings, as fall plantings lead to winter failure in cold zones. Plant Joan J raspberries when the soil warms and thaws in spring. Plantings may take place one to two weeks before the last light frost.
Site and Space
Joan J raspberries do best with full sunshine all day, quick drainage and good air circulation. Plant them only if you can offer four to five feet of space between plants, with good year-round drainage. Separate Joan J raspberries at least 300 feet from any wild cultivars to avoid cross-pollination.
Soil
Plant raspberries with relatively fertile, moist and quick-draining soil. Mix organic compost into the top 10 inches of soil to provide a mixture of half natural soil and half compost. Turn 10-10-10 granular fertilizer into the soil before planting for more nutrition.
Maintenance
Give Joan J raspberries 10-10-10 fertilizer 10 days after planting and then again 40 days later. Feed raspberries in March and May of every year thereafter to maintain growth and fruiting. Keep raspberries moist with 1 to 2 inches of water every week, and put a trellis system behind each row of plants to support them during growth.
